Contents

Introduction 3

Methodology 4

Executive Summary 5

Findings 9
Graph 01 - Opinion on Budget Allocation 9
Graph 02 - Opinion on Budget Allocation Disaggregated by Age 9
Graph 03 - Opinion on Budget Allocation Disaggregated by Locality 10
Graph 04 - Income and Expenditure 10
Graph 05 - Income and Expenditure Disaggregated by Locality 11
Graph 06 - Opinion on Country’s Economy Returning to Normalcy 11
Graph 07 - Opinion on Country’s Economy Returning to Normalcy
Disaggregated by Age 12
Graph 08 - Opinion on Country’s Economy Returning to Normalcy
Disaggregated by Locality 12
Table 01 - Perception on Youth who Led/ Participated in Aragalaya 13
Table 02 - Perception on Youth who Led/ Participated in Aragalaya
Disaggregated by Age 14
Table 03 - Perception on Youth who Led/ Participated in Aragalaya
Disaggregated by Locality 15
Graph 09 - Attitude towards Aragalaya 16
Table 04 - Attitude towards Aragalaya Disaggregated by Age and Locality 17
Graph 10 - Opinion on a Possible System Change 17
Graph 11 - Opinion on a Possible System Change Disaggregated by Age 18
Graph 12 - Opinion on a Possible System Change Disaggregated by Locality 18
Graph 13 - Willingness to make Compromises for a System Change 19

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 Graph 14 - Willingness to make Compromises for a System Change
Disaggregated by Age 20
Table 05 - Willingness to make Compromises for a System Change
Disaggregated by Locality  21
Graph 15 - Perception on Privatization 21
Table 06 - Perception on Privatization Disaggregated by Age 22
Graph 16 - Perception on Democratic Governance 22
Graph 17 - Perception on Democratic Governance Disaggregated by Age 23
Graph 18 - Perception on Power Sharing on National level and
Disaggregated by Age 23
Graph 19 - Ethnic Relations on National level and Disaggregated by Age 24
Graph 20 - Ethnic Relations on National level and Disaggregated by Age 24
Graph 21 - Perception on Forms of Governance 25
Table 07 - Perception on Forms of Governance Disaggregated by Age 25
Graph 22 - Attitude towards Liberal Economic Policies on
National Level and disaggregated by Age 26
Graph 23 - Attitude towards Liberal Economic Policies on
National Level and disaggregated by Age 26
Graph 24 - Attitude towards Liberal Economic Policies on
National Level and disaggregated by Age 27
Graph 25 - Opinion on Welfare Policies on National level and
Disaggregated by Age 27
Graph 26 - Opinion on Welfare Policies on National level and
Disaggregated by Age 28
Graph 27 - Opinion on Welfare Policies on National level and
Disaggregated by Age 28

2
INTRODUCTION

This Topline Report presents findings of the Survey conducted on the popular uprising
(Aragalaya) against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s government. Amidst severe shortages
of essential food items, medicine, fuel, LP gas, and widespread public suffering, people
came together to protest against the then government demanding the resignation of
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and calling an end to the Rajapaksa family’s role in Sri
Lankan politics. Hundreds of thousands of people joined rallies that denounced corruption
and mismanagement, demanded accountability from those in power. Under the growing
agitation, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country on 09 July and submitted his
resignation on 14 July. On 20 July Ranil Wickremesinghe was elected as President by the
Parliament. As the new President, Wickremesinghe deployed security forces and police to
intimidate and harass protestors and thereby suppressed the continuous public protests
against the country’s political classes. Against this backdrop of state oppression, public
participation in popular protests had gradually waned off. However, though in a lesser
magnitude, protests continued against corrupt political classes and especially against
President Wickremesinghe. According to protestors, they were firmly of the view that
President Wickremesinghe had no mandate to be President. In order to understand public
perception and the attitude towards protestors and the protest movement, the survey
research arm of the Centre for Policy Alternatives conducted a survey among randomly
selected 1000 men and women living in all 25 districts.

The survey team consisted of Dr. Pradeep Peiris, M.Krishnamoorthy, Muditha Pathirana
and Ishara Jayarathne. Social Indicator would like to thank Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu
and Bhavani Fonseka for their support in the study and the Global Initiative for Justice
Truth and Reconciliation (GIJTR) for funding this survey. The cover photographs are
courtesy of Selvaraja Rajasegar, Editor of Maatram.

3
METHODOLOGY

This study was carried out with 1000 sample respondents from the four main ethnic
communities (Sinhala, Tamil, Up-Country Tamil, and Muslim) using a semi-structured
questionnaire. The sample distribution captured men and women from both urban and
rural localities in all districts. A multi-staged random stratified sampling technique was
used to select the sample locations, and the respondents were selected using the random
sampling technique. Field work for the national poll was conducted during 22 September
to 10 October 2022. The dataset was weighted in order to reflect the actual district and
ethnic proportion of the population. The data set was analysed using the Statistical Package
for Social Sciences (SPSS).

4
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Opinion on Budget Allocation

• When asked to rank the sectors that the public thinks government should make
budget allocations on, 30% of Sri Lankans’ first priority is the agricultural sector.
While 29% rank the education sector as their first priority, 18% are of the same
opinion that relief on low income families should be prioritized.
• It is mostly the youth (18-29 years) who rank education sector as the first priority,
while people in the age bracket of thirty years and above rank agricultural sector as
the first.
• In terms of locality, relatively more people in Pradeshiya Sabha (33%) rank the
agricultural sector as the first priority.

Income and Expenditure

• A significant majority of Sri Lankans (81%) state that their incomes do not cover
their needs and that they have difficulties. Out of them, 46% are experiencing great
difficulties.
• It is mostly the people outside of Municipality areas who experience more difficulties.

Opinion on Country’s Economy Returning to Normalcy

• According to the survey findings, a majority of the Sri Lankans are skeptical about
the country’s economy returning to normalcy. A considerable proportion (63%) are
of the opinion that it will take a long time for the country’s economy to return to its
normal status while 20% state that they are not sure. This opinion does not change
either by age or locality.

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Perception on Youth who Led/ Participated in Aragalaya

• The survey also examined the public perception on the youth who led/ participated in
Aragalaya and the accusations made against them. Findings indicate that a majority
of Sri Lankans share favorable opinions and less criticism of them.
• 82% of Sri Lankans believe that Aragalaya was led by civic-minded youth with the
aim of reforming the country to a better democracy. An equal percentage state that
the youth protested for a common course concerning the country's better future.
• Relatively, the youth (18-29 years) are more favorable towards the youth who led/
participated in Aragalaya compared with the people above 30 years of age.
• The positive opinions on the youth who participated in Aragalaya are spread across
all the localities.

Attitude towards Aragalaya

• An overwhelming majority of Sri Lankans (82%) believe that Aragalaya had a positive
impact on our country while an equal percentage (81%) believe that Aragalaya was a
necessity of the moment. Close to 60% are in agreement that legal actions should be
taken if the protestors have violated the law.
• Compared with the other, the youth (18-29 years) seem to share more favorable
attitudes on Aragalaya and on the youth who led it. In terms of locality, it indicates
that the support for Aragalaya is higher among the people who live in Urban council
areas.

Opinion on a Possible System Change

• A significant majority of Sri Lankans (83%) express their support for a system change
in the country. This sentiment does not change either by locality or age.

Willingness to make Compromises for a System Change

• The respondents were asked to indicate whether they are agreeable to make
compromises for the sake of a system change. According to the survey findings,
the public support declines as the compromises for a system change gets harsher.
A considerable proportion (76%) state that they agree to support a system change
even if they were to compromise their usual traveling or the mode of transportation.
70% state that they would comprise the usual food items that they used to purchase
for the sake of a system change. This support drastically declines if they were to pay

6
 more taxes (40%). Only a little more than a quarter of Sri Lankans (26%) still agree
to support a system change even if they or their family members were to lose a job.
These attitudes don't change by the age of the respondent. However, there are mixed
opinions about these compromises among the localities.

Perception on Privatization

• The survey also inquired about the public perception on privatization of two most
important sectors - education and health. According to the findings, more than one
half of Sri Lankans are against the proposal of privatizing these two sectors. However,
roughly a quarter of Sri Lankans agree that the education sector and the health sector
should be privatized. Although this sentiment pattern is spread across all the localities
and age groups, there is a slightly higher support for privatization among the youth.

Perception on Democratic Governance

• A significant majority express their opinion that Democracy is preferable to any other
governance (79%). This opinion does not change by age.

Perception on Power Sharing

• As per the findings of the survey, 39% of Sri Lankans state that the power needs
to be devolved to the Provincial Councils while reducing the power of the central
government. However, 30 % of Sri Lankans share the opinion that it is alright to
decentralize certain powers but powers of the central government should not be
reduced. Interestingly, it is mostly the youth less than thirty years of age (42%) who
are of the opinion that the power should be devolved to the Provincial Councils and
that the power of the central government should be reduced.

Ethnic relations

• 54% of Sri Lankans state, no religion should be given the foremost place in order
to maintain every citizens' right to equality. 45% state that all ethnic groups should
be given the freedom to remember those who died as a result of the 30 year old war.
Slightly higher percentage of young men and women believe that no religion should
be given the foremost place and that all ethnic groups should be given the freedom to
remember those who died as a result of the 30 year old war.

7
Perception on Forms of Governance

• Respondents were provided with various ways in which a country could be governed
and inquired to state which forms of governance they support. An overwhelming
majority of Sri Lankans hold the view that the country should be governed by those
chosen by the people in a free and fair election (89%). The least preferred forms of
governance are the religious leaders taking all major decisions about the country and
the military governing the country. This sentiment pattern is shared among both age
categories (above and below 30 years).

Attitude towards Liberal Economic Policies

• Survey findings indicate that 60% of people are of the opinion that the government
should allow foreign companies to invest in the country. 63% state that the government
should not restrict a person’s earning capacity while 52% share the opinion that the
government corporations should not be privatized as it is necessary for the country’s
development. From those who are in favor of the government allowing foreign
companies to invest in our country - it is mostly the youth (65%).

Opinion on Welfare Policies

• People express mixed opinions on the question in relation to welfare policies. While
a majority support the reduction of government employees (51%), people still expect
the government to take responsibility to look after its people and spend on welfare
programs (49%). Furthermore, one half of Sri Lankans state that it is the individual’s
responsibility to find a job.
• From those who believe that the number of government employees should be reduced
– it is mostly the youth (53%). By contrast, 52% of people above thirty years share the
opinion that it is the government’s responsibility to take care of its people. Roughly
50% from both age categories believe that it is the individual’s responsibility to find
a job.

8
FINDINGS
Graph 01 - Opinion on Budget Allocation

Graph 02 - Opinion on Budget Allocation Disaggregated by Age

9
Graph 03 - Opinion on Budget Allocation Disaggregated by Locality

Graph 04 - Income and Expenditure

10
Graph 05 - Income and Expenditure Disaggregated by Locality

Graph 06 - Opinion on Country’s Economy Returning to Normalcy

11
Graph 07 - Opinion on Country’s Economy Returning to Normalcy
Disaggregated by Age

Graph 08 - Opinion on Country’s Economy Returning to Normalcy

Disaggregated by Locality

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Table 01 - Perception on Youth who Led/ Participated in Aragalaya

  Agree Neither Disagree Don’t

Know

I think the Aragalaya was led by civic-minded youth 81.7% 6.4% 7.9% 4.0%
with the aim of reforming the country to a better
democracy.

I think the Aragalaya is an inclusive event and 88.4% 3.6% 5.0% 3.0%
people from all ethnic and religious groups
participated in it.

I think the Aragalaya is an inclusive event and both 93.7% 2.8% 1.0% 2.5%
males and females participated in it.

I think people voluntarily participated in Aragalaya 73.7% 10.1% 9.2% 7.0%

and they were not there because they were allied to
any political party.

I think that the people who participated in Aragalaya 82.0% 7.7% 5.8% 4.5%
protested for a common course concerning the
country's better future.

I think that the people who engaged in Aragalaya 72.5% 11.4% 9.2% 6.9%
are broad-minded and modern in their thinking.

I think that Aragalaya is led by a group of people 11.7% 11.7% 64.9% 11.7%
who are uncivilised and drug users.

I think the youth who participated in Aragalaya also 19.5% 12.7% 57.1% 10.7%
took part in unleashing violence.

I think the young people who led the Aragalaya were 16.6% 13.2% 54.2% 16.0%
connected to anti-democratic parties.

13
Table 02 - Perception on Youth who Led/ Participated in Aragalaya
Disaggregated by Age

  Agree Neither Disagree Don’t

Know

I think the Aragalaya was led by 18 - 29 Years 89.0% 4.6% 4.3% 2.1%
civic-minded youth with the aim of
reforming the country to a better Above 30 Years 77.3% 7.4% 10.0% 5.3%
democracy.

I think the Aragalaya is an inclusive 18 - 29 Years 91.1% 3.8% 4.1% 1.0%

event and people from all ethnic
and religious groups participated Above 30 Years 87.0% 3.4% 5.5% 4.1%
in it.

I think the Aragalaya is an inclusive 18 - 29 Years 96.7% 2.3% 0.5% .5%

event and both males and females
participated in it. Above 30 Years 92.2% 2.9% 1.2% 3.7%

I think people voluntarily 18 - 29 Years 78.9% 12.2% 4.6% 4.3%

participated in Aragalaya and they
were not there because they were Above 30 Years 70.6% 8.9% 12.0% 8.5%
allied to any political party.

I think that the people who 18 - 29 Years 90.3% 4.9% 3.3% 1.5%
participated in Aragalaya protested
for a common course concerning Above 30 Years 77.1% 9.3% 7.4% 6.2%
the country's better future.

I think that the people who engaged 18 - 29 Years 78.3% 10.0% 6.6% 5.1%
in Aragalaya are broad-minded and
modern in their thinking. Above 30 Years 69.3% 12.3% 10.6% 7.8%

I think that Aragalaya is led by a 18 - 29 Years 9.2% 14.8% 67.1% 8.9%

group of people who are uncivilised
and drug users. Above 30 Years 13.1% 9.9% 63.7% 13.3%

I think the youth who participated 18 - 29 Years 17.9% 12.2% 61.2% 8.7%
in Aragalaya also took part in
unleashing violence. Above 30 Years 20.5% 13.0% 54.5% 12.0%

I think the young people who led 18 - 29 Years 12.0% 16.3% 56.2% 15.5%
the Aragalaya were connected to
anti-democratic parties. Above 30 Years 19.2% 11.5% 52.9% 16.4%

14
Table 03 - Perception on Youth who Led/ Participated in Aragalaya
Disaggregated by Locality

  Agree Neither Disagree Don’t

Know
I think the Aragalaya was led by Municipal Council 76.8% 5.2% 12.8% 5.2%
civic-minded youth with the aim of
Urban Council 90.9% 3.6% 0.0% 5.5%
reforming the country to a better
democracy. Pradeshiya Sabha 81.4% 7.0% 8.0% 3.6%

I think the Aragalaya is an inclusive Municipal Council 88.4% 1.9% 5.8% 3.9%
event and people from all ethnic
Urban Council 90.0% 3.6% 0.0% 6.4%
and religious groups participated
in it. Pradeshiya Sabha 88.4% 3.9% 5.3% 2.4%

I think the Aragalaya is an inclusive Municipal Council 95.5% 0.0% 2.6% 1.9%
event and both males and females
Urban Council 91.9% 2.7% 0.0% 5.4%
participated in it.
Pradeshiya Sabha 93.8% 3.2% 0.8% 2.2%

I think people voluntarily Municipal Council 77.4% 6.5% 6.5% 9.6%

participated in Aragalaya and they
Urban Council 79.5% 10.7% 1.8% 8.0%
were not there because they were
allied to any political party. Pradeshiya Sabha 72.1% 10.8% 10.7% 6.4%

I think that the people who Municipal Council 84.5% 3.2% 7.1% 5.2%
participated in Aragalaya protested
Urban Council 78.4% 12.6% 1.8% 7.2%
for a common course concerning
the country's better future. Pradeshiya Sabha 82.1% 7.8% 6.2% 3.9%

I think that the people who engaged Municipal Council 71.2% 13.5% 11.5% 3.8%
in Aragalaya are broad-minded and
Urban Council 70.5% 14.3% 4.5% 10.7%
modern in their thinking.
Pradeshiya Sabha 73.0% 10.4% 9.6% 7.0%

I think that Aragalaya is led by a Municipal Council 14.2% 10.3% 60.7% 14.8%
group of people who are uncivilised
Urban Council 8.0% 12.5% 62.5% 17.0%
and drug users.
Pradeshiya Sabha 11.8% 11.8% 65.9% 10.5%

I think the youth who participated Municipal Council 20.0% 8.4% 60.0% 11.6%
in Aragalaya also took part in
Urban Council 13.6% 15.5% 58.2% 12.7%
unleashing violence.
Pradeshiya Sabha 20.2% 13.2% 56.4% 10.2%

I think the young people who led the Municipal Council 20.9% 9.2% 56.2% 13.7%
Aragalaya were connected to anti-
Urban Council 15.2% 10.7% 57.1% 17.0%
democratic parties.
Pradeshiya Sabha 15.9% 14.3% 53.5% 16.3%

15
Graph 09 - Attitude towards Aragalaya

16
Table 04 - Attitude towards Aragalaya Disaggregated by Age and Locality

  Age Locality

18 - 29 Above Municipal Urban Pradeshiya

Years 30 Years Council Council Sabha

Aragalaya had a positive impact on our country 87.8% 78.6% 80.2% 84.3% 82.0%

Aragalaya left more negative things to the 12.2% 21.4% 19.8% 15.7% 18.0%
society and the country

Base 311 528 121 89 628

Aragalaya was a necessity of the moment 85.9% 78.0% 79.2% 85.1% 80.7%

Aragalaya was a result of the opportunistic 14.1% 22.0% 20.8% 14.9% 19.3%
politics

Base 341 596 130 87 720

Legal actions should not be taken against 45.7% 39.8% 49.6% 61.2% 38.1%
the young people who engaged in Aragalaya

If the protesters have violated the law it is 54.3% 60.2% 50.4% 38.8% 61.9%
okay to take legal actions against them

Base 346 573 137 85 698

Graph 10 - Opinion on a Possible System Change

17
Graph 11 - Opinion on a Possible System Change Disaggregated by Age

Graph 12 - Opinion on a Possible System Change Disaggregated by Locality

18
Graph 13 - Willingness to make Compromises for a System Change

19
Graph 14 - Willingness  to make Compromises for a System Change
Disaggregated by Age

20
Table 05 - Willingness  to make Compromises for a System Change
Disaggregated by Locality 

    Agree Disagree

As a result of a change in the way the country is Municipal Council 85.9% 14.1%
governed if you have to compromise your usual
travelling and transportation would you still agree Urban Council 72.1% 27.9%
with it?
Pradeshiya Sabha 75.1% 24.9%

As a result of a change in the way the country is Municipal Council 73.4% 26.6%
governed, if you have to compromise the usual
food items you are used to purchase, would you Urban Council 56.3% 43.7%
still agree with it?
Pradeshiya Sabha 70.5% 29.5%

As a result of a change in the way the country is Municipal Council 33.8% 66.2%
governed, if you were to pay more taxes, would
you still agree with it? Urban Council 27.2% 72.8%

Pradeshiya Sabha 44.8% 55.2%

As a result of a change in the way the country Municipal Council 18.9% 81.1%
is governed, if you or any one of your family
members were to lose a job, would you still agree Urban Council 21.4% 78.6%
with it?
Pradeshiya Sabha 28.5% 71.5%

Graph 15 - Perception on Privatization

21
Table 06 - Perception on Privatization Disaggregated by Age

    Agree Neither Disagree Don’t

Agree nor Know
Disagree

An increased involvement of the 18 - 29 30.3% 17.3% 50.1% 2.3%

private sector in health services Years
will improve the health sector in the
country.

Above 30 25.8% 17.9% 52.9% 3.4%

Years

An increased involvement of the 18 - 29 27.2% 19.9% 50.9% 2.0%

private sector in the education Years
sector will improve the quality of
education.

Above 30 21.6% 18.8% 55.2% 4.4%

Years

Graph 16 - Perception on Democratic Governance

22
Graph 17 - Perception on Democratic Governance Disaggregated by Age

Graph 18 - Perception on Power Sharing on National level and Disaggregated

by Age

23
Graph 19 - Ethnic Relations on National level and Disaggregated by Age

Graph 20 - Ethnic Relations on National level and Disaggregated by Age

24
Graph 21 - Perception on Forms of Governance

Table 07 - Perception on Forms of Governance Disaggregated by Age

Agree Disagree Don't

Know

Having a strong leader who can make decisions 18 - 29 Years 56.5% 39.4% 4.1%
without having to worry about the parliament and
elections. Above 30 Years 54.8% 40.6% 4.6%

Having an expert to make decisions according 19 - 29 Years 68.1% 28.1% 3.8%

to what he thinks is best for the country, without
worrying about the parliament and elections. Above 30 Years 58.8% 36.3% 4.9%

The Army (the military) should come in to govern 20 - 29 Years 25.0% 69.9% 5.1%
the country.
Above 30 Years 20.7% 74.0% 5.3%

The country should be governed by those chosen 21 - 29 Years 88.5% 8.4% 3.1%
by the people in a free and fair election.
Above 30 Years 89.5% 8.3% 2.2%

All major decisions about the country should be 22 - 29 Years 21.4% 75.0% 3.6%
taken by religious leaders rather than politicians.
Above 30 Years 22.1% 73.5% 4.4%

25
Graph 22 - Attitude towards Liberal Economic Policies on National Level and
disaggregated by Age

Graph 23 - Attitude towards Liberal Economic Policies on National Level and

disaggregated by Age

26
Graph 24 - Attitude towards Liberal Economic Policies on National Level and
disaggregated by Age

Graph 25 - Opinion on Welfare Policies on National level and Disaggregated

by Age

27
Graph 26 - Opinion on Welfare Policies on National level and Disaggregated
by Age

Graph 27 - Opinion on Welfare Policies on National level and Disaggregated

by Age

- END -

28
The Global Initiative for Justice, Truth and Reconciliation (GIJTR) brings together advocates,
activists, and practitioners from nine global organizations with expertise in a range of fields from
psycho-social support and documentation to forensics and law. Together they assist communities
in or emerging from conflict in creating just and peaceful futures.

The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) is an independent, non-partisan organisation that focuses
primarily on issues of governance and conflict resolution. Formed in 1996 in the firm belief that
the vital contribution of civil society to the public policy debate is in need of strengthening, CPA
is committed to programmes of research and advocacy through which public policy is critiqued,
alternatives identified and disseminated.

Address: 6/5, Layards Road, Colombo 5, Sri Lanka.

Telephone: +94(11)2081384-6
Web: www.cpalanka.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CPASL/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CPASL

Social Indicator (SI) is the survey research unit of the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) and was
established in September 1999, filling a longstanding vacuum for a permanent, professional and
independent polling facility in Sri Lanka on social and political issues. Driven by the strong belief
that polling is an instrument that empowers democracy, SI has been conducting polls on a large
range of socio-economic and political issues since its inception.

Address: 6/1B, 1/1, Layards Road, Colombo 05

Telephone: +94 11 2826010
Web: http://cpalanka.org/survey-research/
Email: krishna@cpasocialindicator.org

29